Cleaning your makeup brushes is an important task to protect your skin and kill any harmful bacteria that lingers in your makeup brushes. Dirty makeup brushes can cause an infection, such as a fungal infection, E. coli, or a staph infection, which can be very serious. Here are some tips on how to clean your makeup brushes:
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Rinse the tips of your brushes under lukewarm, running water to remove residual makeup. Only rinse the tip, as submerging the whole brush head will eventually dissolve the glue that connects the brush head to the handle.
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Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a tablespoon of either gentle shampoo or clarifying shampoo. Using plain soap and water can dry out the bristles. Swirl each brush tip in the bowl. For a good lather, you can also massage each brush tip in the palm of your hand.
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Rinse the brush tips under running water. Continue shampooing and rinsing each brush until the water runs clear.
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Gently cleanse your brush using your chosen cleaning product and allow it to lather. To make sure you get a deep clean, swirl the brush around the palm of your hand. For an even more thorough session, try a specialized brush-cleaning glove or pad. Made of soft silicone with small raised bumps, these tools really help to loosen the solidified make-up on your brushes.
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Use a natural cleaning solution. You can use natural castile soap to break up the dirt and grease that accumulates. The alcohol is a natural disinfectant, and it also helps to break down the oils in the makeup. Other natural cleaning solutions include baby shampoo and hydrogen peroxide, hot water and distilled white vinegar, and plant-based products.
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Dry your brushes by laying them flat on a clean towel. Do not stand them upright to dry, as water can seep into the handle and cause the glue to loosen.
Cleaning your makeup brushes once a week is recommended to cleanse the brushes of oil and bacteria, and ultimately help your makeup tools perform their best.
